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The Princes Pigeon 



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A Japanese Pla^ in One Act 



BY FRANCIS WALKER 



C^ll stage, platform, and moving picture rights, reserved. 
For use o{ this play address the pubhsher, Francis Walker, 
4715 Edgeware Road, San Diego, California. ^g^ * ^ * ^ * 



PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY 



COPYRIGHT 1916 BY FRANCIS WALKER 



TMP92-007571 




CHARACTERS 

DATE MATSAMUNE (Dah-tay) PRINCE OF SENDAI 

PRINCE KOJIMA, HIS SON, a boy of eight years 
MASAOKA, Kinswoman of DATE 
jUIdA, Her Son, a boy of fourteen years 

TATSUTA, also a Kinswoman of DATE 



TIME, MIDDLE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 

PLACE, THE ANCIENT AND RUINED CASTLE OF SENDAI, IN THE 
PROVINCE OF KARAZAN 



SCENE : A Large Room in the lower of the 
Castle or Sendai. The entrance door, communicating 
with an outside stairway, is m the right ■w^all. Near 
the door is a windoAv from which anyone approach- 
ing may he seen. In the left •wa.U. is a smaller door, 
■w^ich, -when opened, shows the first steps of a stair- 
case leading to the floor ahove. A. single \vindow m 
the rear left -wall gives what sunlight it can -svith the 
sun loAv in the ^vest. 1 he furniture of the room is 
meagre, indicating poverty and privation. 

In the foreground K.o]ima and Shiha are playing 
battledore and shuttlecock. Xhey make brisk strikes 
and run s^viftly about the room, keeping the shuttle- 
cock with its gay feathers aWays flying back and 
forth m the air. 1 he boys talk as they play. X here 
IS a balcony in the rear wall at the right. A screen 
conceals the opening to it. The chirping of birds is 
heard without. 

ICojima. I like playing "witn you, Snioa : 
there w^as a boy in the school who always let 
me w^m — so I never felt I really beat bim. 

Sbiba. Xbat is a way for children, ICojima; 
1 



you are older now and must play to win, like 
a man and a prince. 

K.. You never give me tke game, do you, 
Skiba? So I aWays do my best. 

S. And you often w^in, for your eye is sure 
and your liand is quick. 

(Xkey make several plays without speaking. ) 

K.. That was a good one; tnat makes you 
run, Sniba. 

S. Yes, and now^ (striking) I send it back to 
you and you bave to run almost to tbe balcony. 

K.. Xbe balcony! Yes, it is tbe bour w^ben 
tbe birds come to supper, I am tired witb run- 
ning and leaping. Masaoka vi^ill give us rice 
for tbe birds and we sball feed tbem. 

(Enter Masaoka from tbe staircase, left; sbe car- 
ries a biDacbi ana is preparing tne evening meal.) 

S. We may bave some rice, motber ? 

Masaoka. But a little, son of mine; tbe 
birds are free and can find food, but we must 
stay always in tbe tower and tbere is little 
given us to eat. 

(Sbe gives bim a tiny cup or rice. Xbe boys go 
out upon tbe balcony. Xbeir voices and tbe 
cries of birds are beard.) 

K.. See bow^ tbey scramble for tbe rice — 
greedy little tbings ! 

S. Xbey are very bungry; would not you 
do so? 

K.. If I -were a bird I migbt, but you and I 
could not do tbat way. ^^e are of tbe Samu- 
rai; w^e are al-ways bungry but it is not for 
us to complain or ever sbow bunger. 

S. You are rigbt, ICojima: it would be too 

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'CI,D 44292 



much like the greedy birds that do not know- 
any hetter. 

K.. Take the cup m, Shiba, it is empty. 
(Shiba returns to the room xvith the cup.) 
S. Look mother, the cup is empty and the 
hirds are red; shall we soon he red ? 
M. Yes son, hut there is little. 

S. Give most to him, mother, I can do w^ith- 
out and it is for me to give everything to him. 

M. That is my true son. i es, we 'would 
give all to him. He may soon he our lord. 
But wickedness sets traps for him. Tell me 
again, son, that you will always do every- 
thing you can for him. 

S. (Proudly.) Are we not of the Samurai, 
mother? 

M. (As proudly.) We are. 

S. Then our w^ord is sacred, and I tell you 
there is nothing 1 would not do for my prince. 
Besides, at the school and from you I have 
heard so many words dropped that now they 
piece together in my mind and I know why 
we are here. 

M. And do you know^ that the Shogun's 
Council meets m two days and that then our 
little prince will he set in his place as a great 
nohle of Japan? 

S, Yes mother, unless — what is hetter — our 
lord Date Matsamune, K.o]ima s honorahle 
father, is again made prince of Sendai. 

M. And how can that he, son? 

S. What if Hyohu or his daughter, Tat~ 
suta, should come here seeking to kill K.O]ima 
— and should fail? 

3 



Mi . (Amazed at his understanding and intent up- 
on learning kow mucn more he knows) Jjut even 
if tLey did fail ? 

S. Xken tne great Snogun, the Ruler of all 
Japan (Botk to-w^ lo-w) -would kno-w tnem for 

traitors and we know tne sure punisnment 

for treason. 

M. It would be 

(For reply Snioa dra^vs nis nand signmcantly 
across nis tnroat.) 

M. You are rignt. And tnen our lord 
■would come into nis o-wn and be reinstated as 
prince of Sendai. 

S. Yes mother — if if ne were also re- 
stored to nealtn, 

M. What mean you? 

S. Mother, tnrice I saw Hyobu drinking 
the strong sake -with our lord of Sendai, out 
many times he filled the prince s cup while 
only pretending to drink and fill his own. 

M. (Nods her head in corroboration.) It is true 
son; I too have seen it. 

S, And mother, a dozen times nave I 
^vatched from behind the snoji and seen Xat- 
suta fill the little opium-pipe and urge it upon 
our lord. One does not take so much sake 
and opium and keep health. 

M. Son, you know all, and I am pleased 
to find it IS so, since now^ you can nelp in this 
hour of peril. Yes, (With great impressiveness) 
those two fiends have sought to debauch our 
great prince and get the government of Sendai 
for themselves. 

S. They failed in part w^hen the Sbogun 

4 



made ICojima nis father s successor and ne was 
sent here with us for safety. 

M. But they w^ill try desperate measures 
— and very soon. 

S. We can fight them, my mother. 

M. They have hut two days now^, and may 
come or send upon some pretext at any mo- 
ment. They w^ould want time to try again 
should they fail in a first attempt to murder 
K.ojima. 

S. No mother, they must stake all upon 
one throw of the dice; one failure and our 
great Date Matsamune can go to the Shogun s 
council and expose them. We shall save K.O- 
]ima, mother. 

(Exit Shioa to balcony.) 

M. And at what cost? It w^ould not be 
strange if this very night 

Ivojima. (His voice is heard on the balcony.) 
My pigeon ! my white pigeon ! It has come 
hack as it always does at evening. (The boys 
enter. ) See ! it is at home now^ in its cage and 
I shut the little door to keep it safe. Masao- 
ka, a little rice for my pigeon. It w^as the last 
thing my father gave me, just before he sent 
us here, and he would not like it to ^o hungry. 

S. Yes mother, some rice. (Aside to her) I 
shall not want much, mother; I am not very 
hungry. (Masaoka gives him rice, which he gives 
to K-ojima.) 

K.. Thanks, Masaoka. Oh! Shiha, I am so 
fond of my >vhite pigeon! When it comes 
home in the early dusk with its w^ings moving 
so softly it IS like one I read about in a story 
— one that w^as said to be a spirit coming and 



goin^. Do you tkink my pigeon can be a spirit, 
SKiba? 

(Humoring him.) PerKaps. Suppose yve let it 
be my spirit tnat goes out every day to see that 
notking can come ana harm you, K.o]ima ? 

K.. But you would always come back at 
nigkt, Skiba ? And you w^ould fly aw^ay only 
in tke morning ? I could not let you go out in- 
to tke dark and leave me alone. If I sa-w your 
wkite wings going out into tke nigkt I skould 
be lonely, and I skould say: "He will never 

come back. ' ' 

S. I skould never be far from you, K-Oji- 
ma, and to skield you from karm I migkt even 
kave to fly out into tke nigkt. It w^ould be 
rigkt for me to ^o at any time, m ligkt or 
darkness, if I could serve you. 

K.. And I w^ould do anytking for you, 
Skiba. I would give you all my playtkmgs — 
all my bo-ws and arrows and my pretty tops— 
my ivory bouse and my carved boxes — every- 
tking but my w^kite pigeon. I COUld not give 
tkat away, bkiba. (Exit Kojima to balcony.) 

(Masaoka nas crossed to tke window near tke 
entrance door. She gazes intently do'wn'wara.) 

S. Wkat IS it motker? 

M. Come kere son. (Skiba approackes tke 
•windo-w and both look out.) 

S. It is a man coming tkis w^ay. 

M. How^ skakby kis dress! 

S. And see ko'w ke staggers. 

M. Wkat is tkat ke carries before kim ? 

S. It looks like — yes, it is a kougk kroken 
from some tree. 

M. Skiba ! I know^ kim. 



S. (Excitedly.) Motker ! mother! it is the 
prince, our lora. 

M. It is he. 

S. 6ut he has heen hiding in the mountains 
for many weeks now. 

M. I know^; he comes secretly — and for 
some strong reason. 

S. He IS coming up the stairs of the tower. 

M. Go son, and leave me to meet him first. 

(Exit Snioa to Dalcony.) 

(Enter Date Matsamune, Prince or Sendai. But 
thirty years or age, his race is seamed -witn the rav- 
aging marks or dissipation. Drink and opium nave 
aged nim. His gait is snamDung and he is evidently 
hair stupefied. He carries upright berore him a bough, 
thinking it a sword. Dead leaves cling to it. He 
marches unsteadily, apparently believing he is leading 
his soldiers. Crossing the front or the stage, he passes 
Masaoka -without seeing her. She has knelt and put 
her forehead to the floor. After he has passed her 
sbe raises her head and regards him mournfully. Date 
has novv^ crossed the rear of the stage. Kojima enters 
from the balcony and, seeing him, drops to his knees.) 

K. My father! 

(Date stops suddenly and looks at the boy with 
almost unseeing eyes. The bough falls from his hands. 
He shows signs of recovering from bis trance. Koji- 
ma runs across the stage.) 

K.. Masaoka! What is the matter w^ith 
my father? Is he ill? MVhy does he look at 
me so wildly ? I do not think he knows me. 

M. He IS ill and he does not know^ you yet, 
hut he w^iU very soon. Go up the stairw^ay 
and w^ait a little for him. 

K.. I w^iU get my pigeon and take it with 
me. When he comes up he will know me as 
soon as he sees my pigeon. 

7 



M. (Giving liim tLe cage.) Here it is; run up 
tke stairs and wait for nim above. 

iC (Reacking the aoor and calling loudly to 
Masaoka.) Xell my father no^v glad I am to see 
mm; tell nim — tell nim, Masaoka ! 

Date. (Looking about kim. ) Masaoka? ^Vbo 
spoke Masaoka s name ? 

M. Here, lord, am I — Masaoka, tby kins- 
woman. And this IS tne tower of tne ancient 
castle of Dendai, whitner you sent us for safe- 
ty. My lord nas just seen his son, prince 
K.O]ima. He is safe and well. 

(As sne speaks Date s mind clears somewhat and 
he nods his head. ) 

D. 1 es, I know^. I have been dreaming, 
but I am bere m tbe old castle and I bave seen 
my son. He is w^ell, you say? No barm bas 
come to bim ? I came because m my dreams I 
bave seen danger close about bim. Dreams ! 
yes, I bave been lost m a sea of dreams, and 
at times tbe waters closed over me. 1 ben, 
like gold-leaf, bammered long, I floated on tbe 
surface of tbat sea in a ligbt tbat confused me. 
bo it is witb me now; tbe deptbs are under 
me and my vision clears a little. One tbing I 
al-ways know^, and tbe bigb gods will some day 
pile tbeir curses upon tbose traitors wbo sunk 
me m tbe bitter floods. 

M. Wbence do you come, my lord? 

D. I come from my biding place in tbe 
mountains— tbree days of bard journeying from 
bere. 

M. Has my lord seen Hyobu or Tatsuta ? 

D. Neitber. Not for all tbese montbs you 
bave d-welt m tbe tow^er. Wben I see tbem 

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how can I koltl my Kands from killing tliem ? 
It w^as they who drugged and destroyed me 
and then poisoned tne mind or the Shogun to 
make him depose and exile me, 

M. But my lord w^iU be Kimself again— for 
his son s sake. (Sne seems to plead witn nim.) 

D. Listen Masaoka. In the >vorst of all my 
dreams I see them taking my son s life 

M. (Interrupting nim witn venemence.) JNever, 
my lord ! never -while I and my son live to 
protect Kim. 

D. Xny son ? he is only a boy. 

M. (Proudly.) He bas understanding and 
courage. Our lives are betvi^een Hyobu and 
prince K.ojima. Xbe great council meets m two 
days and tben all peril -will be over. Brighter 
times will come, and you, my lord— (Sbe pleads 
upon Ker knees.) You w^iU free yourself from 
tbis — tbis illness. You w^ill be yourself again, 
and m triumph ■will 

D. Masaoka, there is one hope, and it rests 
with you and your son. I see it now, but at 
any moment I may sink again into the w^aters 
of forgetfulness; you can look for no help from 
me, Hyobu can do nothing in his evil plans 
unless he compasses the death of my boy with- 
in the next tw^o days. He w^iU surely try, 
and if he fails he and his Tatsuta go to certain 
death, and then the favor of the gods may rest 
once more upon me and may even cure me. (Im- 
pressively.) Masaoka, none but you can save 
my son, and in saving him free me from this 
evil spell. They think me dead or dying, and 
for a little I must continue to seem so to them. 
When they try to kill my son I can justly 



denounce tKem to tlie Sliogun. Yet Ko-vv can I 
wisli suck an attempt will be made when I 
know^ it may cost me tlie lives or my faitnful 
Masaoka and ner son. 

M. (Drawing Lerself up to full heigkt.) May 
all tKe gfods of life and death bear witness ! It 
is I, my lord, -wno speak— I, Masaoka. I am 
Masaoka of tke Samurai, and my son is of the 
Samurai. We count it nothing to give our 
lives for tKy son. No narm snail reacn nim 
w^kile w^e have lives and cunning, Xne hign 
gods hear me and will aid us. The test is 
near and -we shall welcome it. (A knocking is 
heard.) Percnance it comes now. (She goes to look 
from the windo^v near the door.) L/Ord, even nO"W 
it IS 1 atsuta. She must not find you here. 

D. I know. I will hide ahove. (Goes to 
stairway and turns.) Deal "With her then, mas- 
aoka. I can do notning tut trust you. (The 
knocking is repeated.) I shall return to you only 
if I hear violence and a struggle, or if you call 
me. Save my boy, and then perhaps I too 
may (Continued knocking and he disappears.) 

(Masaoka unbars the door and Xatsuta enters. 
She carries a small basket. She and Masaoka greet 
each other with much ceremony. During it and 
while they speak the day is fast going and sort twit- 
terings or birds are heard from the balcony that is 
hidden from the room by a tall screen. As the t'wo 
•women make the usual complex genuflexions and 
finally seat themselves in Japanese fashion, the fol- 
lowing conversation occurs.) 

1 atsuta. I he gods give you nealtK, O Ma- 
saoka San. 

M. Xneyare kind, Xatsuta San, w^hen they 
send you to w^ish that. 

10 



X. May ttey send you worthier favors, 
Masaoka San. 

M. Xne present one, lady, is honor enough. 

X. And your honorable son ? He grows 
and is well? 

M. My tnanks to you tor tne enquiry; he 
is always well. 

X. And tKe young prince iCojima — health 
IS his also ? 

M. Always, gracious one. 

X. It is his father wno condescends to make 
me nis messenger. (SKe kas left ter basket by tbe 
door ana now turns to get it. 

M. (Aside, and glancing toAvard the door by 
wbicb Date left tbe room.) Indeed! (Aloud.) He 
IS kinsman to us botn, Xatsuta San, and in 
sending you he honors me beyond my poor 
deserts. But w^hat is his will ? 

X. A small matter, but a kindly one. 
K.no-wing my intention of journeying this way, 
ne wished me to bring K-Ojima these pretty 
cakes. (As she speaks she bands tbe basket to Ma- 
saoka, ^vbo takes from it small, gaily ornamented 
cakes and lays tbem upon tbe low table. As sbe does 
so Sbiba enters unobserved from behind tbe screen 
and watches tbe two women.) 

X. His highness wished his son to eat them 
and say if they please him. 

M. (Shows her quick suspicion.) OO it should 
be, hut my young prince is unwell today. It 
would he better for him to wait until tomor- 
row to eat these honorable cakes. 

X. I asked for his health hut now, Masa- 
oka San, and you declared him well. 

M. I spoke, august lady, m the larger sense. 
His health is good hut just now a trifling ail- 
ment makes fasting best for him. 

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X. I almost fear, Masaoka, to return to nis 
Ki^kness and ^ive no word or the pleasure nis 
gift affords K-Ojima. 

M. It IS safe, lady, to say that ne -will en- 
joy tnem, and to return nis thanks to nis noble 
fatner. 

X. Ok, I beg of you, not merely that, 
Masaoka. Call the little prince and let me 
hut say I sav^ him taste the cakes. A mouth- 
ful can do no harm. 

M.. ( Growing a little embarrassea by her visitor s 
pertinacity.) Forgive my seeming discourtesy, 
Xatsuta San. I must still refuse; my respon- 
sibility IS so great. 

X. Mine also lady, and pardon me if I still 
insist so that my errand may be completed. 
I would not have his highness displeased with 
either of us — and he would blame you for — 

(Shiba, seeing his mothers perplexity, and sharing 
her suspicion, darts to the table, seizes one or the 
cakes ana crams it into his mouth, pretenaing uncon- 
trollable hunger, lie manages to drag all the remain- 
ing cakes to the floor, and as though by avv^k-wara- 
ness, steps upon them and destroys tnem. Tatsuta 
draws a knire, rushes upon him and stabs him. Mor- 
tally wounded, he falls to the floor.) 

X. Xhat for dishonoring thy prince* 
(Aside — infuriated.) He "Will tell no tales. If I 
could but kill her also ! 

M. (Aside, suppressing a cry.) 1 he cakes ! 
Dhiba knew ! 'Recovering her self sontrol. Aloud.) 
He is well punished, Xatsuta San. We have 
little food here, but hunger was no excuse for 
him. (She even manages to look w^ith contempt at 
his body.) He well earned death at your 
hands. Can I beg you to pardon the insult to 
your honorable self? 

X. It IS nothing, O Masaoka San, but I am 
glad you see the justice of his punishment. 
And now I must depart — with my errand but 
ill done. 

12 



M. It IS through no fault of yours, Tatsu- 
ta San. 

T. Sayonara tken. May the gods he friend- 
ly to you, Masaoka San. 

M. Sayonara, Tatsuta San - and may all 
your plans go well — to your life's end. 

( 1 hey make the customary salutations with no 
omission or ceremony. ) 

1 . Sayonara ! 

M. Sayonara ! 

(Exit Tatsuta. Masaoka turns to the window 
and watches her go down the outer stairway. Mas- 
aoka s face grows rigid as stone and her hands clench 
as she tries to tear the awful strain with Oriental 
fortitude. With stiff steps she turns to cross the 
room to her toy's tody. She falls ty the low tatle, 
overturning it with a crash of troken china. As she 
drags herself on hands and knees to the tody the two 
princes enter hurriedly from the stairway on the 
left. Kojima tas the white pigeon in his hands. See- 
ing Shita lying motionless, he runs to him.) 

Kojima. Shiba ! Shiba ! Oh ! Shiba is hurt ! 
Get up, Shiba ! See ! I will give you my 
white pigeon. (He places the pigeon on the dead 
toy s treast. It spreads its wings and flies out of the 
window into the darkening night. Kojima runs to 
the window to follow its flight. His father stands 
watching the scene. Masaoka had thrown herself 
across the tody. She now^ rises to a sitting posture, 
throw^ing her arms aloft. Her whole appearance is 
almost of madness. Date examines the tody and 
shakes his head upon finding no sign of life.) 

Date. Masaoka! Thy son! 

Masaoka. (Hoarsely and with difficulty.) Dead! 
Dead ! To save thine ! 

K.OJima. (At the window, stretching his arms 
out to the night.) My white pigeon ! It was 

Shiba ! ' 'He will never come back ! ' ' 

(As the curtain falls Masaoka utters one long, 
despairing cry.) 

THE END. 



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